The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-09

mercial interests and pockets, may Justly
feel proud that in England and Wales alone
the people have, during the past ten years,
OF their own accord, and apart from governr
ment dictation, spent by way of loan or in
current expenditures, over $50 000, 900 ster-
ling for purposes mainly of n sanitary char
acter And we may fairly ask whether any
corresponding expenditure has in other
countries given evidence OF real faith in O
quarantine system"
Without denying the value of the sanitary
improvements which have been carried out In
England, and the possibility that her immu-
nifty from cholera is largely due TO them, the
delegates from more exposed countries, such
rs France and Italy, demanded quarantine
station upon the Suez canal, and pointed out
the fact that their seaport cities were not in
such a sanitary condition that they could
hope TO escape the ravages OF the pestilence,
in case OF its Introduction, and that to place
them in such state OF defense would require
time and the expenditure of large sums OF
money. 1t was noticeable that those coun-
tries, such as Turkey, Egypt and Spain,
where sanitary improvements have made
the least progress were the most exacting
with reference TO quarantine restrictions.
They evidently looked upon these as their
only hope, and were advocates of the old
fashioned time quarantine, which, as carried
out in these countries, has often been at
tended with barbarities which are intolerable
for civilized nations Self preservation is,
indeed, the first law of nature, but ID is bar
barous TO sacrifice the life of another to save
our own, and in guarding the lives of q COM
munity, we are bound TO show due consid-
Grafton for the health and comfort of those
who are believed TO be the possible bearers
of disease germs.
Recognizing this humane principle a ma
iOrity of the delegates 10 the sanitary confer
cncc OF Rome were anxious 10 effect com
promise between the old fashioned time
quarantine and the British practice, which
they could not rely upon for the countries
of southern Europe IL was believed that
such compromise was practicable, and that
the plan agreed to by a majority Of the dele
gates present was more reliable than n sim
pie quarantine Of detention. ! must refer
you TO the published transactions for the de-
tails OF this plan; but, in brief, il consisted
OF sanitary supervision of ships at the port
OF departure, when this was AN infected port
or in communication with an infected local
ity; in the sanitary supervision Of ship and
passengers while in transit, by properly
qualified physician upon all passenger ships;
and in such detention ut the port OF arrival
as might be necessary for the distinction Of
the ship, the personal effects OF the passen-
gers etc. III one or more cases OF cholera
should appear on board during the voyage
they were 10 be isolated and rigid measures
of disinfcction carried out, and the action Of
the health authorities at the port of arrival
was TO depend largely upon how effectively
this had been done. In short, the treatment
OF the vessel and lis passengers was not 10 DO
determined In advance by arbitrary rules
PIT was TO be governed by an intelligent con-
Sideration, by an expert, of all the circum-
stances relating 10 the sanitary history of the
SUI from the date OF it, departure from tho
injected port. This rational quarantine sery-
ice which Is far less burlcnsomc 10 the
commerce Of "A country than the arbitrary
time quarantine of former DAYS, has proved
itself 10 be also more eilectual In accomplish
ing the end in view. This is amply proved
10y recent experience In our own country
where, 20 large extent. the principles in
Dictated control the action of the health OIL
GERS OF our principal scaports. Look at tho
city of New Orleans, where epidcmics Of yell
low fever were formerly 80 frequent as to
lead 10 the belief that the disease was cpl
dcmic, and a necessary evil appcrtaning TO
the situation ol the Crescent City. Happily,
under an efficient quarantine service she has
now record Of seven year, exemption from
the dreaded pu,tilcnce.
IL j., perhaps too soon 10 speak with conf
dcncc with reference to the action taken by
the sanitary officials Of the port Of New York
upon the recent arrival Of two cholera in
( A'NANh Nt-HtlN lGhUl lllf htNlltFtuueui. Dut
We have good reason To hope that the meas
urcs taken will prove sufficient, aud that this
pcstilcntial disease, which has for several
years been threatening Va from distance,
has not effected Judgement upon our shores.
Whether 10 would be- practicable Ia put our
scnports In such state OF sanitary defense
that IL would be safe to open the door and
defy the Zoe j. extremely doubtful. I have
never believed that yellow fever was eX-
oh fr.f No IvIa -.
hy the sanitary regulations enforced by GEN
Butler, as has been claimed. The exemption
from this disease enjoyed by the unac-
Climutcd soldier, from the north who filled
the hospitals In that city at the time mem
toned, was due, in my opinion, 10 the alb
scncc Of commerce during the military occu-
patton Of the city and TO the rigid enforce
mcnt 0f quarantine restrictions.
But do believe that this aud other cities
similarly located can bc preserved FROM such
devastating cpidemics a. have too often oc.
CURED In the past. and that by the carrying
out ~ needed sanitary improvements aud
the constant supervision OF expert sanitary
officials, supported by an enlightened public
sentiment aud sufficient appropriations, the
myagcs Of pcstilcnual diseases may be re-
stricted within very narrow limits.
As regards cholera, the system OF local de-
Tense Is even simpler than IN the case Of yell
low foyer. Ample evidence demonstrates
that the epidemic extension ~ this disease
depends largely, n not exclusively upon
the water supply. Where this Is subject 10
contamination by the discharges Of tie sick,
there cholera Is liable 10 become epidemic.
On the other hand, cities like Rome, In
Italy, which have an ample supply 81 pure
water, drawn from n source not likely to DO
contaminated, seem 10 be cholera proof. not
with,tanding the 9th aud squalor IN which
o considerable portion ~ the population
live. Tho same thing r. seen IN Naples,
which, In 1884, suffered terribly, but which,
since the completion Of Us new system 81
water works in 1886, has enjoyed a compnm-
tive immunity, notwithstanding the fact
that cholcm still prevails In Italy, and that
We have evidence Of IT, presence In q malig.
nnut form IN the city referred 20. When I
was In Naples, In 1855, the mayor Of the city
invited n number Of the delegates 10 the
sanitary conference To the municipal palace,
for the purpose Of comforting with them with
reference 10 projected sanitary improve
mcnts, and especially with reference TO tho
best system of sewerage for the city, which,
up 10 the present time. remains destitute ~
sewers, aud which, ! may add Il n noted
stronghold 81 typhoid fever. In the course
Of the conversation, ] suggested 10 the mayor
Col Warnings American system, which has
Continued ON Third Page.